What's wrong with my little girl - YorkieTalk.com Forums

PrairieGirl · 04-16-2007, 05:13 AM

Lexy is normally in my lap if I'm sitting - she has always slept with us. She is very active and a fantastic "watch dog." But, lately she's a different dog at night compared to her daily behavior.

She has plenty of energy during the day. Does her usual running and barking. Guards the yard as usual. But...

The last 6 nights she has refused to sleep with us. In the evening, instead of being in a lap, she sneaks around with ears down. Goes off in the laundry room to nap while we watch TV. She was curling up on a towel in the floor so I put a bed out there and she goes and gets on it. She has NEVER left us to go off in another room to take a nap. The only time she has slept away from us is when she had brand new puppies. After the first few days she came back to our bed and got up several times a night to check her babies. I thought perhaps it was hurting her to jump up on the bed. (She's usually like a monkey without a tail. <G> So I picker her up and set her on the bed. She leaped off like it was hot.

We had her spayed last fall. She's never been sick. I feed her Science Diet and Iams. Checked all the numbers on the food I had and no bad numbers were there. Bought new food at PetSmart last week. But, they had signs everywhere stating all the food was new and checked.

She goes to the vet regularly and is up on all her shots. I would take her now for evaluation but don't know what to tell him. She won't sleep with us? <G> He'll think I'm a panicky mother. <G>

Does anyone have any ideas for has anyone dealt with a similar problem. Anyone who lost a dog to the food? How did the symptoms begin?

AngelWorks · 04-16-2007, 05:17 AM

Milo becomes more and more independent with each day.

While I miss his constant attention, I'm also glad that he feels so safe and secure to be able to take his "me" time.

Maybe that's what she's doing?

BLowry · 04-16-2007, 05:23 AM

First...Welcome to YT! Do you think she may be doing something she shouldn't be doing? When one my adult goes potty where she shouldn't you can tell by the way she is acting that she has done something she knows she shouldn't have. I know you said you had her spayed but, is this about the time she would be coming in heat. My Mom had a pekenese (sp) and even though she had her spayed after 1 litter she still would act like she was in heat when it would have been her time.
Also..Iams (not just because of the recall) and, Science Diet are not very good foods. Any food you can by off the shelf really isn't that good. Look at the ingredients in Iams...by-products...not good! if you go into search and type in dog food rating chart you should be able to bring it up...It has all the top quality foods..And....Iams tests their foods on animals..Science Diet doesn't get good ratings either.
I hope you find out whats wrong with your little one. Don't you wish they could talk.

PrairieGirl · 04-16-2007, 05:38 AM

She's 4 years old, has had 2 litters and been spayed. Don't think she's just now getting independent. Does enough of that already during the day. But, when it gets dark, it's always been mommy time. ????

Not doing anything in the house to get scolded for. Uses puppy pads when she can't go out and there have been no accidents.

Ok, Science Diet and Iams not so good - what do others feed? She loves our food of course but only give her bites because of added salt and flavorings. She's always had "bites" and had has nothing new lately.

We had her spayed because she produced a beautiful TINY baby boy in her 2nd litter with livershunt. Didn't show up for 6 months. Those people were so heart broken (and so was I). When they lost him, we had her spayed. Couldn't ever put anyone or any baby through that again!

But, Lexy has never had a problem, always plenty of energy - no down times. At 4 years old I wouldn't think she'd just now begin to show signs of liver shunt.

We travel a lot. Just returned from winter in AZ on March 19th. So, we've been home long enough the effects of the trip shouldn't be a source nor anythng she might have picked up in AZ.

?????

PrairieGirl · 04-16-2007, 05:45 AM

Forgot to say - she eats and drinks normally.
But, I've scared myself - calling the vet when they open.

PrairieGirl · 04-16-2007, 07:55 AM

Well, called the vet. He said...

possible to have personality changes as they age
could have been a tiny stroke
bad food causes kidney damage not personality changes
keep a journal for another week or so and note ANYTHING going on - normal or abnormal
Try to engage her with any activity
could try her on an anti-anxiety medication
let him know in a week or 2 what's going on

Soooo, guess we start Lexy's Medical Journal and try to figure out what's going on with her. ????????? Lot's of questions but no answers yet.

At least he didn't laugh at me or think I was a panicky mother. <G> But, didn't seem too concerned about her overall health. Tended to think it was just personality and that we needed to figure out what was triggering it.

Wait... Anything going on ?????? My husband has been sick. Limping from a pinched nerve, can't drive, lots of doc appts, also discovered Peripheral Artery Disease, has an arteriogram scheduled for Thursday of this week.
Could she be picking up on that? He's up and down several times a night with pain. Bless her bitty heart. Well, we'll keep track and see what comes of it.

PrairieGirl · 04-16-2007, 08:17 AM

Thank you ALL for letting me vent. I started the journal and with the help of our calendar was able to recreate all events since my husband first began sysmptoms. He's had lots of pain and can't sleep, can't drive and all that.

As I put everything on paper I do believe this is anxiety. I think she's picking up on everything going on in the house. Poor baby.

Will keep track of everything the next few days and see if the journal bears it out. May begin the anti-anxiety medication if it continues.

Again, thanks so much for just LISTENING!

Isabel · 04-16-2007, 08:26 AM

Animals are very sensitive to pain and sorrow... My mom has anxiety and depression... and I can swear her yorkies know when she is not OK... It is just the oposite, they are very independant, but whenever she does not feel OK they will jump on her bed and stay there... She may be picking your husband pain, and feeling she might hurt him or make him hurt more at night... I am sorry all this is happening to your family, and hope your husband feels better soon, but, isn't it incredible how wonderful our dogs are??? Just one more plus to the yorkie list!!!

PrairieGirl · 04-16-2007, 02:52 PM

I already knew how much she could pick up but just didn't think of this situation as causing her anxiety. I know how perceptive she is. When her sick puppy was born she didn't want to accept him. After feeding him a couple of days with an eye dropper he was strong enough to "latch on" and she took him. 15 months later (and a month before his adoptive parents lost him) she was with him and a couple of other yorkies. She maneuvered him into a corner and stood between him and the others. All us "people" couldn't really tell by looking there was anything wrong with him, even though we knew by then and he was on medication.

Indeed they are amazing! Anyway, I think this mystery is solved and we will ALL survive. Again thanks to all for allowing me to worry out loud. :-)

Yorkiedaze · 04-16-2007, 03:55 PM

Or maybe during the night sometime, you or your husband really hurt her somehow, maybe by rolling over or kicking around. She may not want to sleep with you because of that.

Sweetums · 04-16-2007, 06:50 PM

Do you know if perhaps one of you accidently hit her in your sleep or rolled over on her or something of that sort? I guess that's a dumb question since you wouldn't know if you did something in your sleep. But my Yorkie girl is real sensative if we do something accidently that hurts her. I once threw a ball for her to fetch and it accidently hit her on the nose. She wouldn't come close to me after that any time I picked up her ball. I tried and tried to get her to play fetch after that and she wouldn't. It took weeks for her to finally trust me again and we had to build up to playing with the ball by throwing other toys for her to fetch first. So maybe you did something in your sleep that made her wary of being in bed with you?

PrairieGirl · 04-17-2007, 04:50 AM

We'd already considered kicking her in our sleep or something but don't think that's the case. It's possible of course but this extends to sitting in our laps as well. Anytime she's outside she acts normally but is subdued in the house with us. I do believe we've isolated the cause - something's wrong with Daddy. Anyway, will continue to journal her actions and probably see if the vet agrees = maybe give her some anxiety medicine because this is going to be a long recovery. Thanks for all the suggestions.

RoxyJosMom · 04-17-2007, 08:14 AM

Awww, bless her little heart. She know's Daddy isn't feeling well. Maybe she thinks it's her fault. Prayers for you husband and for Lexy. Hopefully, as her Daddy gets better, so will she.

Yorkiedaze · 04-17-2007, 09:32 AM

For every medication you give, it always has another side effect........just like with people. If you want her to calm down the homopathic way, then just use Rescue Remedy. Give 4 drops and in 45 minutes she will fee much calmer.

PrairieGirl · 04-17-2007, 10:06 AM

Tell me more about Rescue Remedy and where I get it if I decide to give that to her instead of the vet's remedy.

04-16-2007, 05:13 AM	#1
PrairieGirl Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 72	What's wrong with my little girl Lexy is normally in my lap if I'm sitting - she has always slept with us. She is very active and a fantastic "watch dog." But, lately she's a different dog at night compared to her daily behavior. She has plenty of energy during the day. Does her usual running and barking. Guards the yard as usual. But... The last 6 nights she has refused to sleep with us. In the evening, instead of being in a lap, she sneaks around with ears down. Goes off in the laundry room to nap while we watch TV. She was curling up on a towel in the floor so I put a bed out there and she goes and gets on it. She has NEVER left us to go off in another room to take a nap. The only time she has slept away from us is when she had brand new puppies. After the first few days she came back to our bed and got up several times a night to check her babies. I thought perhaps it was hurting her to jump up on the bed. (She's usually like a monkey without a tail. <G> So I picker her up and set her on the bed. She leaped off like it was hot. We had her spayed last fall. She's never been sick. I feed her Science Diet and Iams. Checked all the numbers on the food I had and no bad numbers were there. Bought new food at PetSmart last week. But, they had signs everywhere stating all the food was new and checked. She goes to the vet regularly and is up on all her shots. I would take her now for evaluation but don't know what to tell him. She won't sleep with us? <G> He'll think I'm a panicky mother. <G> Does anyone have any ideas for has anyone dealt with a similar problem. Anyone who lost a dog to the food? How did the symptoms begin? __________________ Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the number of breathtaking moments.

04-16-2007, 05:23 AM	#3
BLowry My furkids Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 4,625 Blog Entries: 1	First...Welcome to YT! Do you think she may be doing something she shouldn't be doing? When one my adult goes potty where she shouldn't you can tell by the way she is acting that she has done something she knows she shouldn't have. I know you said you had her spayed but, is this about the time she would be coming in heat. My Mom had a pekenese (sp) and even though she had her spayed after 1 litter she still would act like she was in heat when it would have been her time. Also..Iams (not just because of the recall) and, Science Diet are not very good foods. Any food you can by off the shelf really isn't that good. Look at the ingredients in Iams...by-products...not good! if you go into search and type in dog food rating chart you should be able to bring it up...It has all the top quality foods..And....Iams tests their foods on animals..Science Diet doesn't get good ratings either. I hope you find out whats wrong with your little one. Don't you wish they could talk. __________________ Brenda

04-16-2007, 05:38 AM	#4
PrairieGirl Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 72	Yes, I wish she could talk She's 4 years old, has had 2 litters and been spayed. Don't think she's just now getting independent. Does enough of that already during the day. But, when it gets dark, it's always been mommy time. ???? Not doing anything in the house to get scolded for. Uses puppy pads when she can't go out and there have been no accidents. Ok, Science Diet and Iams not so good - what do others feed? She loves our food of course but only give her bites because of added salt and flavorings. She's always had "bites" and had has nothing new lately. We had her spayed because she produced a beautiful TINY baby boy in her 2nd litter with livershunt. Didn't show up for 6 months. Those people were so heart broken (and so was I). When they lost him, we had her spayed. Couldn't ever put anyone or any baby through that again! But, Lexy has never had a problem, always plenty of energy - no down times. At 4 years old I wouldn't think she'd just now begin to show signs of liver shunt. We travel a lot. Just returned from winter in AZ on March 19th. So, we've been home long enough the effects of the trip shouldn't be a source nor anythng she might have picked up in AZ. ????? __________________ Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the number of breathtaking moments.

04-16-2007, 05:45 AM	#5
PrairieGirl Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 72	More Forgot to say - she eats and drinks normally. But, I've scared myself - calling the vet when they open. __________________ Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the number of breathtaking moments.

04-16-2007, 07:55 AM	#6
PrairieGirl Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 72	Called the Vet Well, called the vet. He said... possible to have personality changes as they age could have been a tiny stroke bad food causes kidney damage not personality changes keep a journal for another week or so and note ANYTHING going on - normal or abnormal Try to engage her with any activity could try her on an anti-anxiety medication let him know in a week or 2 what's going on Soooo, guess we start Lexy's Medical Journal and try to figure out what's going on with her. ????????? Lot's of questions but no answers yet. At least he didn't laugh at me or think I was a panicky mother. <G> But, didn't seem too concerned about her overall health. Tended to think it was just personality and that we needed to figure out what was triggering it. Wait... Anything going on ?????? My husband has been sick. Limping from a pinched nerve, can't drive, lots of doc appts, also discovered Peripheral Artery Disease, has an arteriogram scheduled for Thursday of this week. Could she be picking up on that? He's up and down several times a night with pain. Bless her bitty heart. Well, we'll keep track and see what comes of it. __________________ Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the number of breathtaking moments.

04-16-2007, 05:17 AM	#2
AngelWorks Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NY Posts: 1,752	Milo becomes more and more independent with each day. While I miss his constant attention, I'm also glad that he feels so safe and secure to be able to take his "me" time. Maybe that's what she's doing?

04-16-2007, 08:17 AM	#7
PrairieGirl Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 72	Thanks guys Thank you ALL for letting me vent. I started the journal and with the help of our calendar was able to recreate all events since my husband first began sysmptoms. He's had lots of pain and can't sleep, can't drive and all that. As I put everything on paper I do believe this is anxiety. I think she's picking up on everything going on in the house. Poor baby. Will keep track of everything the next few days and see if the journal bears it out. May begin the anti-anxiety medication if it continues. Again, thanks so much for just LISTENING! __________________ Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the number of breathtaking moments.

04-16-2007, 08:26 AM	#8
Isabel Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 1,010	Animals are very sensitive to pain and sorrow... My mom has anxiety and depression... and I can swear her yorkies know when she is not OK... It is just the oposite, they are very independant, but whenever she does not feel OK they will jump on her bed and stay there... She may be picking your husband pain, and feeling she might hurt him or make him hurt more at night... I am sorry all this is happening to your family, and hope your husband feels better soon, but, isn't it incredible how wonderful our dogs are??? Just one more plus to the yorkie list!!! __________________ Isabel T., Don Juan and Luna's momma.

04-16-2007, 02:52 PM	#9
PrairieGirl Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 72	So True I already knew how much she could pick up but just didn't think of this situation as causing her anxiety. I know how perceptive she is. When her sick puppy was born she didn't want to accept him. After feeding him a couple of days with an eye dropper he was strong enough to "latch on" and she took him. 15 months later (and a month before his adoptive parents lost him) she was with him and a couple of other yorkies. She maneuvered him into a corner and stood between him and the others. All us "people" couldn't really tell by looking there was anything wrong with him, even though we knew by then and he was on medication. Indeed they are amazing! Anyway, I think this mystery is solved and we will ALL survive. Again thanks to all for allowing me to worry out loud. :-) __________________ Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the number of breathtaking moments.

04-16-2007, 03:55 PM	#10
Yorkiedaze My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca. Posts: 12,228	Or maybe during the night sometime, you or your husband really hurt her somehow, maybe by rolling over or kicking around. She may not want to sleep with you because of that.

04-16-2007, 06:50 PM	#11
Sweetums Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kirkland WA Posts: 431	Do you know if perhaps one of you accidently hit her in your sleep or rolled over on her or something of that sort? I guess that's a dumb question since you wouldn't know if you did something in your sleep. But my Yorkie girl is real sensative if we do something accidently that hurts her. I once threw a ball for her to fetch and it accidently hit her on the nose. She wouldn't come close to me after that any time I picked up her ball. I tried and tried to get her to play fetch after that and she wouldn't. It took weeks for her to finally trust me again and we had to build up to playing with the ball by throwing other toys for her to fetch first. So maybe you did something in your sleep that made her wary of being in bed with you?

04-17-2007, 04:50 AM	#12
PrairieGirl Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 72	Thanks for the suggestions We'd already considered kicking her in our sleep or something but don't think that's the case. It's possible of course but this extends to sitting in our laps as well. Anytime she's outside she acts normally but is subdued in the house with us. I do believe we've isolated the cause - something's wrong with Daddy. Anyway, will continue to journal her actions and probably see if the vet agrees = maybe give her some anxiety medicine because this is going to be a long recovery. Thanks for all the suggestions. __________________ Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the number of breathtaking moments.

04-17-2007, 08:14 AM	#13
RoxyJosMom Love The Verminator! Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ny Posts: 4,282	Awww, bless her little heart. She know's Daddy isn't feeling well. Maybe she thinks it's her fault. Prayers for you husband and for Lexy. Hopefully, as her Daddy gets better, so will she. __________________ Roxy loves Alphy Remi loves Millie [COLOR="Purple"]Mom to RoxyJo & Remington , Fozzy Bear & Chloe

04-17-2007, 09:32 AM	#14
Yorkiedaze My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca. Posts: 12,228	For every medication you give, it always has another side effect........just like with people. If you want her to calm down the homopathic way, then just use Rescue Remedy. Give 4 drops and in 45 minutes she will fee much calmer.

04-17-2007, 10:06 AM	#15
PrairieGirl Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 72	Rescue Remedy Tell me more about Rescue Remedy and where I get it if I decide to give that to her instead of the vet's remedy. __________________ Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the number of breathtaking moments.